On October 31 Christians in the Reformed traditions (including the PCUSA) take note of the anniversary of Martin Luther seeking debate partners by nailing what amounted to charges against the church to a cathedral door. Here at UPC, we mark the day by returning to the heart of our faith, the Great Commandments.

Join us this Sunday morning! We worship together at 10:30 AM in our sanctuary, live-streaming the service for those at home (or on the road) right here. You are invited!

~~~

Reformation Sunday/

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Union Presbyterian Church

October 31, 2021

Sharing the Light of Christ, Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Liturgist: Sue Troy Preacher: Rev. Pat Raube

Prelude Chris Bartlette, organ

“Sweet Hour of Prayer,” Patricia Lou Harris

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Welcome Rev. Pat Raube

Call to Worship Sue Troy

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,

though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea.

God makes wars cease to the end of the earth,

breaking the bow, and shattering the spear;
God burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!

I am exalted among the nations,

I am exalted in the earth.”

The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Hymn #77 W & R

“I Greet Thee Who My Sure Redeemer Art,” John Calvin

(Public Domain)

I greet thee, who my sure Redeemer art,

My only trust and Savior of my heart,

Who pain didst undergo for my poor sake;

I pray thee from our hearts all cares to take.

Thou art the King of mercy and of grace,

Reigning omnipotent in every place:

So come, O King, and our whole being sway;

Shine on us with the light of thy pure day.

Thou art the life by which alone we live

And all our substance and our strength receive;

Comfort us by thy faith and by thy power,

Nor daunt our hearts when comes the trying hour.

Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness,

Thou hast no harshness and no bitterness:

Make us to taste the sweet grace found in thee

And ever stay in thy sweet unity.

Our hope is in no other save in thee;

Our faith is built upon thy promise free;

Come, give us peace, make us so strong and sure,

That we may conquerors be and ills endure.

Call to New Life

Prayer of Thanksgiving for Our Baptism

Marked, claimed, cleansed and called, through the gift of baptism,

We are yours, O God.

Your breath moved over chaos in the beginning.

Your feet danced with Miriam at the edge of the sea.

Your voice tore through the clouds at the River Jordan.

Your heart broke on the cross

when you poured out your life for us.

Your hands caught fish for Easter breakfast on the shoreline.

Your tears water your thirsty world as rain.

Your fingers mark our foreheads

with abiding grace, perfect freedom, holy truth.

Through the gift of baptism,

We are yours, O God.

You wash us with grace,

You anoint us with promise.

You feed us with mercy,

You fill us with joy.

Fruit of the earth,

watered and fed,

we remember:

in baptism we are risen to new life in Christ—

forgiven sinners, beloved children of the covenant.

Through the gift of baptism,

We are yours, O God.

Thanks and praise to you, O holy, triune God,

today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen.

Sharing of the Peace

May the peace of God be with you.

And also with you.

Let us offer one another a sign of God’s peace.

Scripture Jeremiah 31:31-34

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

Children’s Message Rev. Pat Raube

Scripture Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked [Jesus], “Which commandment is the first of all?”  Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question.

Response Holy Wisdom, Holy Word:

Thanks be to God!

Meditation Rev. Pat Raube

Music during Meditation:

“God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending”

Text: Robert L. Edwards

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Tune: James H. Wood

Used by Permission. CCLI License #CSPL068847

1 God, whose giving knows no ending,
From your rich and endless store:
Nature's wonder, Jesus' wisdom,
Costly cross, grave's shattered door,
Gifted by You, we turn to You,
Off'ring up ourselves in praise;
Thankful song shall rise forever,
Gracious donor of our days.

2 Skills and time are ours for pressing
Toward the goals of Christ, Your Son:
All at peace in health and freedom,
Races joined, the Church made one.
Now direct our daily labor,
Lest we strive for self alone;
Born with talents, make us servants
Fit to answer at Your throne.

3 Treasure too You have entrusted,
Gain through powers Your grace conferred;
Ours to use for home and kindred,
And to spread the gospel Word.
Open wide our hands, in sharing,
As we heed Christ's ageless call,
Healing, teaching, and reclaiming,
Serving You by loving all.

Anthem “Adre,” Caryl Parry Jones

Jerry Natoli, euphonium; Colin DeLap, percussion; Chris Bartlette, piano

Prayers of the People

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

Prayer Response 

“Spirit of the Living God,” Daniel Iverson 

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Congregation

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me;

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.

Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Call for Offering   

Doxology   

“Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”

Tune: Public Domain

Text: Brian Wren 

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE.   

Congregation

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise God, all creatures high and low.

Praise God, in Jesus fully known:

Creator, Word, and Spirit one.

Prayer of Dedication of Our Pledges for 2022  (Unison)

God, our sure redeemer, we bow before you with the gifts of our lives—those set aside and saved, those nurtured and earmarked just for this moment, and those we have just discovered this week. We ask you to bless our gifts, and make them fruitful. Let them multiply like the loaves and fishes with which Jesus fed thousands. Let them support this congregation in its mission and ministry throughout the next year. Then, let your love go out into the world because these gifts are carried by your grace. We pray in your holy name. Amen.

Hymn  #507 W & R

“A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Martin Luther

(Public Domain)

Congregation

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;

Our helper he, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;

His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,

On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing,

Were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he;

Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same,

And he must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.

The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;

His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure;

One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;

The Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred to, this mortal life also;

The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still;

His kingdom is forever.

Benediction   From Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals,

by Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, and Enuma Okoro

May the peace of Christ go with you: wherever he will send you.

May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm.

May he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you.

May he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.

Postlude  Chris Bartlette, organ, Colin DeLap, piano

Worship With Us

Stewardship 4: Reformation Sunday